Multidose capsules

Abstract

The present invention is a multidose capsule. The capsule consists of a longitudinally extending tube and caps for each end thereof. An intermediate section of the longitudinally extending tube is severable so that the capsule may be broken into two separately administrable components.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ingestable hard gelatin capsule for holding medication to be ingested which comprises: a longitudinally extending tube having a first end and a second end;   at least one dividing section intermediate said first and second ends which separates said longitudinally extending tube into a first and second chamber, said at least one dividing section including a first wall and a second wall, said first and second wall extending through said longitudinally extending tube, said longitudinally extending tube having means for severing a portion of the periphery of said longitudinally extending tube relative to said first and second walls; and   first and second removably supportable caps, each of said first and second removably supportable caps having a first open end and a second sealed end, said open end of said first removably supportable cap being slidable along and mountable upon said first end of said longitudinally extending tube and said open end of said second removably supportable cap being slidable along and mountable upon said second end of said longitudinally extending tube to an extent sufficient to support each of said first and second removably supportable caps on said longitudinally extending tube thereunder.   
     
     
       2. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for severing includes said portion of said periphery of said longitudinally extending tube relative to said first and second walls being scored. 
     
     
       3. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for severing includes said portion of said periphery of said longitudinally extending tube relative to said first and second walls being notched. 
     
     
       4. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said first wall is spaced from said second wall. 
     
     
       5. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second walls extend in cross-sectional planes through said longitudinally extending tube. 
     
     
       6. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second walls are rounded. 
     
     
       7. An ingestable hard gelatin capsule for holding medication to be ingested which comprises: first and second longitudinally extending hollow tubes, each of said first and second longitudinally extending hollow tubes having an open end and a closed rounded end;   means, extending from said first longitudinally extending hollow tube to said second longitudinally extending hollow tube, for supporting said closed rounded ends relative to one another, said supporting means including means for severing said supporting means along a cross-sectional plane thereof; and   first and second removably supportable caps, each of said first and second removably supportable caps having a first open end and a second sealed end, said open end of said first removably supportable cap being slidable along and mountable upon said open end of said first longitudinally extending hollow tube and said open end of said second removably supportable cap being slidable along and mountable upon said open end of said second longitudinally extending hollow tube to an extent sufficient to support each of said first and second removably supportable caps on said first and second longitudinally extending hollow tubes thereunder.   
     
     
       8. The capsule as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for supporting includes a hard gelatin band annularly disposed along said closed rounded ends of said first and second longitudinally extending hollow tubes and said means for severing includes notches in said hard gelatin band. 
     
     
       9. The capsule as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for supporting includes a hard gelatin band annularly disposed along said closed rounded ends of said first and second longitudinally extending hollow tubes and said means for severing includes a scored periphery of said hard gelatin band. 
     
     
       10. The capsule as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for supporting includes means for supporting said rounded ends in spaced alignment. 
     
     
       11. The capsule as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for supporting includes means for supporting said rounded ends in longitudinal alignment. 
     
     
       12. An ingestable hard gelatin capsule for holding medication to be ingested which comprises: first and second longitudinally extending hollow tubes, each of said first and second longitudinally extending hollow tubes having an open end and a closed rounded end;   a hard gelatin band extending longitudinally from said closed rounded end of said first longitudinally extending hollow tube to said closed rounded end of said second longitudinally extending hollow tube, said closed rounded ends being supported in spaced longitudingal alignment with one another by said hard gelatin band, said hard gelatin band including means for severing said hard gelatin band along a cross-sectional plane thereof; and   first and second removably supportable caps, each of said first and second removably supportable caps having a first open end and a second sealed end, said open end of said first removably supportable cap being slidable along and mountable upon said open end of said first longitudinally extending hollow tube and said open end of said second removably supportable cap being slidable along and mountable upon said open end of said second longitudinally extending hollow tube to an extent sufficient to support each of said first and second removably supportable caps on said longitudinally extending hollow tubes thereunder.